Patent NZ-587488-A (NZ)
Title: Distribution of Digital Content over A Peer-To-Peer Network
Inventor: FOMENKO OLEG
IPC: G06Q30/00
Filed: 2009-02-12
Abstract: A method of providing digital content over a peer-to-peer network is disclosed. A user requests a central authority (122) to authorise the download of an item of digital content to a first peer (128, 129) associated with the user. The central authority identifies a plurality of second peers (124) from whom different parts of the item can be downloaded. The central authority prepares a plurality of tokens. Each token identifies at least one of the plurality of second peers and the first peer. The central authority sends the plurality of tokens to the first peer. The first peer sends each one of the plurality of tokens to a respective second peer identified in each respective token. The respective token identifies the first peer, the second peer to whom the token is sent, and the item requested by the first peer, with a request for a part of the item from the second peer. Each of the plurality of second peers receiving a respective token transmits the requested part of the item to the first peer; and the first peer receives the requested parts and assemblies them to form the content item. Also disclosed is a method for a central authority to control the delivery of digital content items over a peer-to-peer network, comprising registering peers as able to participate in content delivery over the peer-to-peer network; receiving a request for a digital content item from a first peer; identifying a plurality of second peers from whom different parts of the item can be downloaded; preparing a plurality of tokens each identifying at least one of the plurality of second peers and the first peer, and sending the at least one token to the first peer to enable the first peer to obtain and assemble together different parts of the item of content from the plurality of second peers. Further disclosed is a method for a user to receive an item of digital content over a peer to peer network comprising or including the following steps carried out by or on behalf of the user. The user registers a peer associated with that user with a central authority; requesting the item of digital content from the central authority; and receives a plurality of tokens from the central authority. Each of the tokens identifies at least one of a plurality of second peers identified by the central authority as being a peer capable of uploading a part of the requested item for downloading by the first peer. The user sends one of the tokens to a respective second peer identified in that token. The token identifies the first peer, the second peer to whom the token is sent, and the item requested by the first peer, with a request to the second peer to provide a part of the item. Unless all parts of the content item have been requested, the user sends further tokens until all parts of the item have been requested and the user receives the requested parts and assemblies them to form the requested content item. Further disclosed is a method for a user to provide a part of an item of digital content over a peer-to-peer network, comprising registering a peer associated with the user with a central authority; obtaining the item of digital content with the right to redistribute it to another peer in the network, such that the presence of the content item at the user's peer and the right to redistribute the content item are recorded with the central authority and receiving from another peer a request to provide a part of the content item. The request is accompanied by a token originating from the central authority. The token identifies the user's peer, the peer from whom the request is received, and the content item. The user's peer provides the requested part of the content item to meet the request. A computing apparatus is arranged to execute each of the above described methods.